To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

connec t ion
“If it is going to be a high fire danger day, they need to have
their staff ready to go,” Carlson said. “When a wildfire is
going on, they can use OK-FIRE to look at current weather
and fire danger conditions monitored by the Mesonet. Fire
managers can look at the 84-hour weather and fire danger
forecasts to see how that will impact fire management
decisions. So if a wind shift or cold front is coming through,
firefighters can be safely moved to better attack the wildfire.”
For prescribed burners, the Fire Prescription Planner allows
them to input their own prescription criteria based on what
are considered safe burning conditions.
“Before starting a burn, they should monitor the current
Mesonet weather conditions over the course of the burn to
see if the conditions are still suitable for the burn,” Carlson
said. “The 84-hour forecast is updated every six hours and
can change, so they should use it right up to the time they
are ready to burn.”
Volume 3 — Issue 2 — February 2012
www.mesonet.org
With parts of Oklahoma still in an extended drought and
with warmer months ahead, the increased risk of a wildfire
outbreak weighs heavily on the minds of emergency
managers and firefighters. Concerns also arise from
prescribed burners about knowing when the best time is
to burn. The Oklahoma Mesonet’s OK-FIRE program was
created to help meet the needs of these communities
through workshops and online tools.
“There are two major types of applications for OK-FIRE,
one having to do with those who anticipate and suppress
wildfires, like fire departments,” said J.D. Carlson, OK-FIRE
program manager. “The other is for those who conduct
prescribed burns, such as landowners.”
An 84-hour weather forecast is used in conjunction with
the fire danger models to help give an idea of what the fire
danger levels will be over the next three days. Emergency
managers and firefighters can then prepare for the amount
of staff they may need on a given day.
–by Stephanie Bowen
Meeting the Needs
of Oklahomans
Participants in the
OK-FIRE workshop
in Stillwater, Okla.,
on December 19,
2011, complete
computer exercises
to learn more about
the OK-FIRE tools
available to them.

connec t ion
“If it is going to be a high fire danger day, they need to have
their staff ready to go,” Carlson said. “When a wildfire is
going on, they can use OK-FIRE to look at current weather
and fire danger conditions monitored by the Mesonet. Fire
managers can look at the 84-hour weather and fire danger
forecasts to see how that will impact fire management
decisions. So if a wind shift or cold front is coming through,
firefighters can be safely moved to better attack the wildfire.”
For prescribed burners, the Fire Prescription Planner allows
them to input their own prescription criteria based on what
are considered safe burning conditions.
“Before starting a burn, they should monitor the current
Mesonet weather conditions over the course of the burn to
see if the conditions are still suitable for the burn,” Carlson
said. “The 84-hour forecast is updated every six hours and
can change, so they should use it right up to the time they
are ready to burn.”
Volume 3 — Issue 2 — February 2012
www.mesonet.org
With parts of Oklahoma still in an extended drought and
with warmer months ahead, the increased risk of a wildfire
outbreak weighs heavily on the minds of emergency
managers and firefighters. Concerns also arise from
prescribed burners about knowing when the best time is
to burn. The Oklahoma Mesonet’s OK-FIRE program was
created to help meet the needs of these communities
through workshops and online tools.
“There are two major types of applications for OK-FIRE,
one having to do with those who anticipate and suppress
wildfires, like fire departments,” said J.D. Carlson, OK-FIRE
program manager. “The other is for those who conduct
prescribed burns, such as landowners.”
An 84-hour weather forecast is used in conjunction with
the fire danger models to help give an idea of what the fire
danger levels will be over the next three days. Emergency
managers and firefighters can then prepare for the amount
of staff they may need on a given day.
–by Stephanie Bowen
Meeting the Needs
of Oklahomans
Participants in the
OK-FIRE workshop
in Stillwater, Okla.,
on December 19,
2011, complete
computer exercises
to learn more about
the OK-FIRE tools
available to them.